Twenty years ago — 1999

School-to-Work, a Chautauqua County program that helps students relate their education with the work force, will begin its second year in schools this fall. Eighteen schools in the county as well as Randolph Central School participate in the school-to-work partnership. Driven by a 30-member panel of school personnel, business leaders, organized labor, government officials and student representatives, it is used by teachers from kindergarten to 12th grade in helping students apply what they’re learning in school to real-life experience.

Thirty years ago — 1989

Featured in this week’s People in Profile is Robert L. Harris of Ripley. He recently retired as postmaster in Ripley after 30 years of service with the United States Post Office. Active in community affairs, he served as a Boy Scout Explorer leader and as a trustee in the Presbyterian Church. He also was an active member of the Ripley Rod and Gun Club and the Westfield Moose Lodge.

Forty years ago — 1979

Plans by Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. to build its Lake Erie Generating Station near Dunkirk have received a 1-2 punch from two powerful state agencies, but the power company is fighting hard to save its $15 million preliminary investment in the $2 billion plant. The Public Service Commission has recommended that the application be denied, while the Department of Environmental Conservation has recommended the permit to build the plant be delayed until the company can prove a need for it.

Fifty years ago — 1969

A “Warmin’ the Bench” article by Keith Sheldon notes that school adminstrators in this area are not ecstatic over the state ruling that virtually forbids them from telling a student his hair is too long or must be cut. The ruling also upholds “the right of high school students to wear long hair, mini-skirts and slacks, unless the style is dangerous, indecent or unduly distracting.”