Thirty years ago — 1994

Dog owners in the village of Forestville became subject to new laws after members of the village board voted 4-1 in favor of establishing a leash law. The action followed a notice received by the board from the Chautauqua County Board of Health Department which stated that Forestville was one of only a very few communities without such a regulation. In addition, the county department warned that it would be forced to take action on the matter if the village did not.

Forty years ago — 1984

President Ronald Reagan, hoping to reduce traffic deaths, recently signed legislation that could lead to a nationwide drinking age of 21 and save up to 1,000 lives a year, according to aides. The bill, signed at a White House ceremony, restricts highway construction money, with a five percent loss for states that do not adopt a drinking age of 21 within two years.

Statistics indicate that people between the ages of 18 and 20 are more than twice as likely as the average driver to be involved in alcohol-related crashes.

Fifty years ago — 1974

Twelve-year-old Bob Feinen of Sheridan is pictured in the OBSERVER with a 17- pound catfish that he battled on Lake Erie for 20 minutes before finally reeling it in.