Twenty years ago — 1999

A proposed $26.3 million budget was rejected by voters in the Dunkirk City School District. District residents defeated the proposed 1999-2000 spending plan by a margin of 672 to 558. The board will now consider two options — adopting a contingency budget of making revisions and scheduling a second budget vote. The $26.3 million proposal represented at 3.4 percent increase over the current year.

Thirty years ago — 1989

Wooden Indian sculpture artist Peter “Wolf” Toth has completed his mission of carving a statue in all 50 states, with one of the first ones now resting along Lake Shore Drive West in Dunkirk. During his 17 years touring the country and working on his art work, the self-taught artist and itinerant tree carver has created a striking series of enormous Indian sculptures, which he donates to the communities in exchange for a permanent pedestal and statue maintenance guarantee. His 50th American statue is in Hawaii. The Dunkirk statue was his seventh.

Forty years ago — 1979

ABC News Correspondent Ted Koppel was the main speaker for commencement exercises held at Fredonia State University College on May 19. He spoke during two commencement ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the college’s Harry A. King Concert Hall. In addition to his duties as ABC News principal State Department reporter, Mr. Koppel also is co-author of the best-selling novel, “In the National Interest.”

Fifty years ago — 1969

John R. Bogardus, a junior at Dunkirk High School, has been named Student of the Week. The son of Mrs. Marian Bogardus of 617 Roosevelt Ave., Dunkirk and the late Ray Bogardus, John is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Club and the Debate Club. He is a letterman in cross country and a member of the track team. Upon graduation, he plans to major in mathematics at Fredonia State University College.