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Some of the best, worst of the week

Here are some of the best – and worst – of the week:

BEST

FREDONIA MUSIC – Congratulations to the Fredonia Central School District’s music department. The school was recently recognized as a 2014 Best Community for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants. According to School Board President Michael Bobseine, less than 3 percent of districts in the nation receive this designation. “It’s a testament to the community at large and a tribute to the efforts of our students, staff, teachers and everyone.” We agree.

LIFESAVER – Mr. and Mrs. William Sayers of Fredonia should be proud. Their granddaughter, April Sayers, a fifth-grader at an elementary school in Virginia, was serving as safety patrol in January when she saw a kindergartner go after a toy that was sitting under a school bus. April pulled the young student out shortly before the bus began moving. “She saved a little girl’s life,” Mr. Sayers said. Because of her actions she got to throw out the first pitch at a recent Baltimore Orioles game. We applaud April for her actions.

SCHOOL 7 FUNDRAISER – Good job to the students at School 7 in Dunkirk. The students worked hard at this year’s annual Math-A-Thon and raised nearly $5,000 for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. The children worked on math problems, asked relatives to sponsor them, brought in loose change, paid admission to Zumba, took a chance on shooting a basketball through a hoop and wore silly hats to help other children with their battle against childhood cancer. Their efforts were worth it because they raised more money than any other year. Good job!

WORST

ROAD RAGE – Earlier this week a pick-up truck from Virginia was traveling along I-90 in the town of Evans when a passenger reportedly pulled out a handgun and shot at a vehicle from Ontario. The driver from Ontario told police he threw a soda pop can out the window at the pick-up truck after he was cut off. Let’s be honest here; traffic on I-90 in Evans is limited. There’s no reason to be cutting people off, but even if it happens, don’t try to “get even.” You never know what crazy person is behind the wheel. If you’re that worried about it, slow down, let them go ahead of you and after they’re out of sight, call the police. Don’t seek to get revenge. It’s not worth it.

Some of the best, worst of the week

Here are some of the best – and worst – of the week:

BEST

AWARD WINNING HEADLINE – Congratulations to reporter Katie Atkins for winning this year’s New York News Publishers’ Association’s 2012-2013 Awards for Excellence Competition in the headline writing category for newspapers under 10,000 circulation. The winning headline was “All fired up: Fuse lit between Cannon and Ball.” Atkins, who now covers Chautauqua County government, was previously the Cassadaga/Arkwright reporter. While covering Arkwright, she wrote a story about the feud between town council candidates Chris Cannon and Larry Ball.

This is the second time an OBSERVER headline has won this category. Diane Chodan won the headline writing contest in 2010-2011 for the headline “It takes talent to be a dummy,” when she covered a puppet event at the County Fair.

BALD AND BRAVE – Hannah Verrett, a ninth grader at Cassadaga Valley Central School had the idea for the school to hold its first ever “Bald for Bucks” campaign. She spoke with a guidance counselor and the gears set in motion. Verrett personally raised $579 and had her head shaved. The school raised $4,000 overall. You’re never too young to have a good idea.

POT HOLE FUNDS – Route 60 is a mess. Nearly ever day crews are out there between Fredonia and Cassadaga trying to patch things up. But that area is not alone. All over the region are huge pot holes. Because of this, the state has set aside additional funds for local municipalities to repair roads. Chautauqua County will receive more than $832,000. This is welcome news.

WORST

YOUTHFUL OFFENDER STATUS – A 19-year-old Silver Creek woman was granted youthful offender status in the death of 20-year-old Jesse Seneca of Irving. Seneca’s body was found near a dirt road on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in July 2012. The woman did not kill Seneca, but was involved in helping bury the body, hiding evidence and providing false testimony to police. She was 18 at the time of the incident. Youthful offender status would keep this incident off her permanent record. If a person is involved in murder, he/she should not be granted youthful offender status, especially being 18 at the time of the death.

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