Twenty years ago — 1999

Fourteen-year-old Chad Witherell of Forestville is one of 100 students statewide who aim to advance to the National Geography Bee in Washington, D.C. Known as “Mr. Geography” at Forestville Central School, the eighth-grader is heading to Albany to participate in the state competition. This is the first year Forestville is participating in the geography bee. Chad developed his interest in geography from an early age. He read newspapers at 3 years old and shared his father’s love of reading maps. Chad is one of eight Buffalo area contestants and the only student from Chautauqua County.

Thirty years ago — 1989

Concerns over the proximity of railroad tracks and area drainage problems were the primary topics of discussion during a public information hearing on a proposal to build a single-story home on Park Avenue in Dunkirk to house 12 mentally-disabled senior citizens. Southern Tier Environments for Living, Inc. – a state-funded not-for-profit agency that provides residential opportunities for the mentally disabled — wants to build the house on two vacant lots at 815-817 Park Ave. The Norfolk Southern railroad tracks are only about 700 feet to the north of the site.

Forty years ago — 1979

It must be spring! Mayor Gilbert Snyder is asking the Dunkirk Common Council to consider a modified open container law and a non-resident fee at Point Gratiot. A similar request for a park fee made last year fell on deaf ears. The proposal for an open container law will be studied by the council, Police Chief Edward Mulville, City Attorney Walter Drag and the mayor.

Fifty years ago — 1969

The OBSERVER Pet of the Week is Dum-Dum, the cat that came to visit the Sherrill Wilkinson family in Forestville and remained to become the family pet. Pictured with the native of Florida feline is Shari Wilkinson, complete with nurse’s cap. The nursing symbol is authentic, as the four-year-old informed photographer Lamar Schnur. “Pauline, my friend in Buffalo, gave me this cap and she’s a real nurse,” Shari exclaimed.