Thirty years ago — 1993

As host community for a new medical waste community, the town of Sheridan received a check from Browning Ferris Industries (BFI) for $11,953.12. The check represents the host fee for the facility’s first month of operations. The facility is the only large-scale commercial autoclave operation in New York state.

Forty years ago — 1983

Ham, the chimpanzee whose rocket ride in space blazed the path for America’s first manned spaceflight, has died at the North Carolina Zoological Park. The 26-year-old Ham, who made history with his Jan. 31, 1961 sub-orbital flight, rode in a Mercury Redstone II rocket that soared 157 miles high at a speed of 5,857 miles. He flew 422 miles for 16 and a half minutes and endured 14.7 G’s during entry. Ham preceded astronaut Alan Shepard into space.

Fifty years ago — 1973

A multi-million dollar major expansion of the Ralston Purina Plant in the East Town of Dunkirk has been announced by company officials. The project will begin about April with completion expected early in 1974.