Published: November 12, 2006 09:24 am            

HISTORY: Grand Island history for Nov. 13-18

THOSE HAPPY DAYS: 1956

n It’s wasn’t Richie Cunningham who led police on an 80 mph chase through fog across the island. The car, driven by a 16-year-old Town of Niagara youth, narrowly missed hitting two oncoming cars as it sped across the north bridge in the fog, according to the Nov. 8 second edition of the Island Dispatch. The hooligan was arrested in Niagara Falls after “the youthful driver” lost control, smashed the stolen car and emerged uninjured.

n That fog — which limited visibility to 5 feet — also required state police to guide an ambulance through it. Six “teens” were injured after their car smashed through guardrails at the west end of Love Road. The car failed to make the turn onto West Service Road and it broke through two 15-foot wooden rails at the dead end.

n The Thruway finally opened. Speculation mounted as to whether it would hurt or help the island’s businesses.

OLD WAVES ON THE ISLAND: 1981

n Shirley was nowhere to be found when LaVerne C. Luther defeated Andrew Beyer Jr. 3,476 votes to 1,947, respectively. Councilmen getting re-elected included James Pax and Martin Prast. Eric Reimann whomped Sharon Osgood 4,963 to 387. And Norm Mrkall defeated Charles P. McDonough 4,063 to 1,357.

n The possibility of using sludge for landfill on Grand Island might not be such a bright idea after all,” reported the Nov. 13 edition of the Island Dispatch. Sludge should be burned not used on land, according to researchers at Cornell University. “We’ve found that there’s practically no such thing as clean sludge,” said professor Donald Lisk. Sludge is composed of solids formed from the treatment of wastewater as well as waste from bathrooms, eateries, gas stations and hospitals.

NOT SO LONG AGO: 1996

n Dog owners were warned that anyone with an unlicensed dog over the age of six months would be issued a summons.

        

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