Thirty years ago — 1994

Additional free clinics and public education are major components of the game plan north county governments want to put into action for fighting the rabies epidemic. Rabies has permeated all towns in the northeast side of the county. More than 50 lab-confirmed cases of the disease have been found so far this year in the county, mostly due to raccoons, but also a skunk and a cat. Eventually, 80 percent of the raccoon population here succumbs to the disease. Stray cats are a big concern because they are six times more likely to get rabies from a raccoon.

Forty years ago — 1984

More than 45 friends and relatives gathered at the White Inn for a retirement luncheon in honor of Dr. Allen H. Benton, professor of biology at Fredonia State University College. Dr. Benton is an educator, author and lecturer, and distinguished teaching professor at Fredonia State. In 1973, he was recognized as a superior teacher in the SUNY system and was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. He was also named a Kasling Memorial Lecturer at the college.

Fifty years ago — 1974

A “snowman,” constructed from white insulating materials, unexpectedly popped up on the Niagara Mohawk property near Main and Newton streets in Dunkirk.