Twenty years ago — 1999

Fredonia Village Police were dispatched to Water and Liberty streets after callers reported children chasing a monkey. Officers Patrick Ambrose and John Romanik were told upon arrival that a monkey was loose near Canadaway Creek. The pint-sized fugitive apparently escaped from its cage when the owner attempted to attach its leash. The monkey was located near Hamlet Street, but would not allow itself to be taken easily. A 45-minute chase ensued down through the creek and wooded areas, before the monkey was cornered against a fence near the Fredonia Central School football field on West Main Street and retrieved by owner Barbara Schaefer of Kansas City.

Thirty years ago — 1989

After a 13-year fight, New York has switched. Gov. Mario Cuomo signed into law sweeping restrictions on smoking in public places. The action gives the nation’s second-largest state one of the toughest anti-smoking laws in the country. The new law takes effect in early January. It prohibits smoking in auditoriums, elevators, gymnasiums, food stores, shared taxicabs and limousines. Smoking will be restricted to certain areas in restaurants, bowling alleys, bingo halls, hospitals, theaters, indoor arenas, banks, waiting areas and restrooms.

Forty years ago — 1979

At 1 o’clock this morning, Buffalo’s Channel 4 showed the movie, “Million Dollar Mermaid,” co-starring Esther Williams and Victor Mature. The film also featured a kangaroo, “Sidney the Great,” once owned and trained by Dunkirk’s Lorin “Red” Wilcox of East Green Street. Mr. Wilcox not only handled the kangaroo for the film, he also doubled for Mr. Mature and Jess White in the film’s fight scenes.

Fifty years ago — 1969

James Kaufman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack C. Kaufman, 426 Canary St., Dunkirk is a veteran of nine years with the nationally famous Ice Capades. One of its top performers at age 28, the Ice Capades have afforded him the opportunity to travel throughout the country while doing something that he loves, and to meet famous and ordinary people alike. He also has set up a scholarship fund named after him to help needy children. There are six to nine production numbers in a typical Ice Capades show, with Jim appearing in almost all the numbers.