The year 1973 seems to be a series of headlines, each more attention grabbing than the previous one. Politics plays strongly in this year, we find. It's almost as if Washington has been sprinkled with some sort of narcotic with a few jolts of stimulant thrown in for good measure, as Americans stare in dumb-founded wonder at our self-destructing government.

        Leading the way down the path of disbelief is a carryover from the previous year - Watergate. The initial burglary of the Democratic Party headquarters may be gone (June 17, 1972), but not forgotten. A full-blown scandal erupts and engulfs the Nixon administration. Five ofthe seven defendants in the Watergate trial plead guilty; two are convicted.

        In a defensive "preserve and protect" move, Nixon fires Archibald Cox, special prosecutor in the Watergate case, and William Ruckelshaus in the "Saturday Night Massacre."

        In October, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns; Gerald Ford is appointed as his replacement and is inaugurated on Pearl Harbor Day. Attorney General Elliot Richardson also submits his resignation.

        Not all actions in the nation's capitol are negative, however.

        The president, in his second term at this point, signs the Endangered Species Act. Preserving wildlife isn't the only landmark decision, though. In Paris, a peace treaty is signed with Vietnam and the last U.S. troops are withdrawn. Punctuating the defense-related activities is the action by Congress overriding Nixon's veto of the War Powers Act, designed to curb a president's power to commit armed forces to hostilities abroad without Congressional approval.

        Other actions taken at the time include the Matrimonial Causes Act, providing legislation that enables financial provisions to be granted in divorce cases, and the controversial Roe versus Wade decision that legalizes abortion. An independent Oglala Sioux Nation is declared when the Native Americans occupy Wounded Knee, SD. Finally, a nationwide meat boycott gets underway.

        Concerning less trying activities, the Computerized Aerial Tomography (CAT) scan is developed by Allan Macleod Cormack and Godfrey N. Hounsfield, NASA designs the earth-orbiting space station, Trong Truong invents the microcomputer and Paul Berg develops recombinant DNA.

        Earning Academy awards for 1973 are Jack Lemmon for his role in "Save the Tiger" and Glenda Jackson for "A Touch of Class." "The Sting" is the film of the year.

        Dominating sports scoreboards are: World Series repeat winners, the Oakland A's; NBA champs, the New York Knickerbockers; Super Bowl VII winners, the Miami Dolphins; Masters champ, Tommy Aaron; Stanley Cup heroes, the Montreal Canadiens; Wimbledon winners Jan Kodes and Billie Jean King; Kentucky Derby winner Secretariat and another track master, Indy 500 winner Gordon Johncock.

        Ironically, with 12 fufl months of activities taking place, 1973 is also the big year of the energy crisis.

        Although a conservative community by nature, Gowanda does its share to comply with requests from national, regional and area leaders and factions to aid in conserving energy. One of the most notable moments is the announcement by the village board late in the year that no Christmas lights will glow in the business district. The board also asks area residents to refrain from using outdoor lights. Student activities involving transportation are also curtailed. As the cooperation from Gowanda, and other municipalities aid in the effort, the state speed limit is also reduced to 50 mph as a measure to decrease fossil fuel consumption.

        More sobering statistics are recorded during the year.

        Vandals damage the Collins Conservation Club. A fire in the maintenance building at Gowanda State Hospital finds 15 volunteer fire companies battling the blaze for more than 12 hours. The scorcher causes over $100,000 in damages. Damage is minimal from a fire in the dust collector at the tannery. A dubious announcement from State Assemblyman Daniel Walsh declares legislation in Albany will phase out "'warehouse style' institutions for the mentally retarded and replace them with community facilities." This action, he adds, would "humanize the care and programs and be a savings to taxpayers. In August, Gowanda Central School District teachers picket a Board of Edu- cation meeting.

        Three Brant men are found unharmed after spending the night in Zoar Valley. Paul and Peter Chiavetta, and Gary Muscato are rescued and explain their rubber raft was ripped apart by sharp rocks in the Cattaraugus Creek. Fifteen Tonawanda area youths are cited for trespassing in Zoar Valley during prohibited hours. A 24-year-old Buffalo woman isn't as lucky, however. She is killed in a 150-foot fall off the edge of a cliff. Lastly, the formation of an area search and rescue unit is discussed.

        Other local happenings include the first baby of 1973, Ella Shetler, born on Jan. 2 to Andy and Iva Shetler of Conewango Valley. The Gowanda Royal Arch Masons installs its officers; Arnold Nephew is selected to head the lodge. Karen Whitney wins the Cattaraugus County Oratorical Contest in Ellicottville. The village board agrees to abolish the village justice position; court cases are now to be sent to the towns of Persia and Collins. William Gilray, Michael LiVecche, incumbent Andrew LaBombard and incumbent Charles Cocca all run for village trustees; Cocca and LaBombard are re-elected. The Gowanda PTA receives its charter. Robert Kickbush, of Otto, is elected president of the TCMH Board of Directors.

        A spring fashion show is hosted by the Home-School Association of St. Joseph Church. Dave Thomas of WKBW- Channel 7 is the master of ceremonies and the following stores participate in the event: Becky's, Ron's Sports Shop, Himelein's Department Store, Wallace's Men's Wear, Gowanda Fabric Center, Don Campbell's Discount Store and Soles Unlimited.

        A youth center opens at 149 West Main St. Douglas Mcllhagga is valedictorian and Karen Whitney is salutatoran of the Class of '73. Paula Palcic is chosen for Girls' State. Chosen for Boys' State are Louis Bobsein, Tom Borowski, Kurt Doehnert, Bill Hoppa, Jim Leisner and Bill Snyder.

        Laurie Ann Fullone is crowned Miss Cattaraugus County for 1973. Barbara Dittenhofer is crowned junior prom queen. Donald Dole is the runner-up. Lori Joubert is the winner of the Cattaraugus County Milk Poster Contest. Eugene Brown, junior high principal, resigns; Carl Lyons is named junior/senior high principal.

        The village board approves rezoning of parcels on Aldrich Street and Memorial Drive for the construction of apartment complexes. Paul North resigns as provisional police chief; he resumes his duties as sergeant. At a village board meeting, North reports the Gowanda Police Department issued 83 radar tickets between July 3 and 16; most violators of the speed limit were caught on Broadway Road. In August, the board appoints Richard Stitzel acting police chief.

        The Model A Club of Gowanda hosts the Restorer's Club of Buffalo in July. Henry Miller is named to the newly created village clerk/treasurer position. Immanuel Lutheran Church celebrates its 75th anniversary. Paul Taft is elected master of the Cattaraugus County Pomona Grange.

        Patrolmen Timothy and Patrick Howard resign to join the Eden Police Department. In the fall, James Minekime wins the GCS American Legion Oratorical Contest. The HELP Center moves to the basement of the United Methodist Church.

        In business news, the Peter Cooper Corporation acquires Industrial Adhesives Company of Dallas, TX. Gowanda Co-operative Savings and Loan Association merges with the Niagara Permanent Savings and Loan Association; H. Philip Smith is named manager of the Gowanda office. A grand opening is held at Colonial Flowers, 34 West Main St. Paul Timmel is the owner and Orrin Mesch is the designer.

        Donald Kessler, of Springville, develops Zoar Moto Park on the William Bylbie property in the ZoarValley area. The first Moto-cross is held May 6. The Miller Agency moves to 21 Jamestown St. The barber shop at 17 Buffalo St. reopens under the new ownership of John Insinna. Hogle's joins GiftAmerica, a subsidiary of Western Union Corporation.

        Sports-related matters include: Dick and Marilyn Utley take second place in the husband-wife division of the Buffalo District's Me 'n Mine BowlingTournament. Marilyn Carpenter places first and Beverly Richter is second in the standard downhill race at Bluemont. David Lay wins the Buffalo Braves Outstanding High School Player Award for the 1972-73 season.

        Second-graders Debbie Jones and Ricky Johnson are proclaimed overall AES Field Day winners; each won three ribbons. Marilyn Utley appears on Channel 2's "Bowling for Dollars," hosted by Ed Kilgore. The Tri-County Dog Club issues its awards. Jeff Franklin of Forestville wins for outstanding junior training, Florence Tolman and Evelyn Sternisha are the most advanced senior members. and Cecilia Kendall of Angola is outstanding secretary. Charles Wilcox and Tom McCarthy, Jr. qualify for finals in the Erie County Chess Championship. Janette Luffred, Laurie Schindler, Mark Wolfe and John Utley are the pie eating contest winners at St. John's Park. A new recreation program gets underway for adults: women's physical fitness and men's basketball.

        Once again, with much left unsaid, my column space is gone. It's now time to clear the way and the mind for 1974. Until then...