2005 - The year in review

     While many events and activities took place throughout the year, here is but a small sampling of some of the items making headlines: Hurricane Katrina decimates the Gulf Coast and sets off flooding that submerges much of New Orleans; Pope John Paul II passes away and is succeeded by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany; The American death toll surpasses 2,000 in the Iraq War; Gas prices jump significantly as crude oil prices reach an all-time high; Terri Schiavo's death spurs controversy; Erie County's budget crisis attracts national attention; Pop star Michael Jackson is acquitted.

     Here are just some of the local headline-makers:

     John McDonough hired as interim superintendent in North Collins; Gowanda Police lose K-9 Kilo to hit-and-run accident in Hamburg; Armed standoff/hostage situation at Palm Gardens Restaurant & Lounge in Gowanda, 3-1/2 hour ordeal; Donald B. Myers Memorial Park dedicated in Langford; North Collins Historical Society opens; Gowanda Police acquire Ambo, the new K-9; GMS students travel to Atlanta, GA, present Disney's "The Jungle Book Kids;" New streetlights installed in Gowanda Business District; Ron Lillie receives the Collins Center Fireman of the Year award; Jim and Laurie Fort are Spirit of Gowanda Business award winners; Laura Valone is Spirit of Gowanda Community Service award winner; Bryna Montz is chosen to receive the Gowanda Excellence in Youth award; Old Creekside Restaurant in Gowanda torn down.

     Gowanda-area All-Sports Awards winners are: Ed Kota (baseball/softball), Judi Prince (bowling), Dale DeCarlo (automotive), William Jacobs (archery), Jason Schindler (martial arts). Richard Stitzel (bowling), Whitney Nephew (George Dispenza Memorial Award), Dan Gernatt Sr. (Outstanding Sports Sponsor Award), Jordan Steves (Chuck Korbar Memorial Award), Jerry Capozzi (Henry Huff Jr. Memorial Award), and Bryan Brawdy (Howard Hillis Memorial Award); United States Air Force Staff Sgt. Shawn Foust of Perrysburg receives the Purple Heart; Sandy and Gary Farley of Gowanda, and Irene and Chuck Pfeifer of Collins are Valentine's Gift Package Giveaway winners; Gowanda Shrine Club No. 1 honors Don Campbell for his 65 years of service.

     Healthy Community Alliance's Fit & Fun© program gains national recognition; Shawn Malek wins the Fat Tuesday Burger-Eating Contest at K&L Lanes in Gowanda; The former Hopples Restaurant in Perrysburg is torn down; Gowanda Middle School's Fitness Bucks Auction mountain bike winner is Katie McIntire; South Dayton Daffodil Festival Dessert Contest top winners are Betty Crowell, Jeanne Matteson, Ruth Bennett, Dakota Ellis, Ben Dye, Justin Dye, and Joseph Thuman.

     Gowanda Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary honors Edna Arnold for her 60 years of service; Jim Skora Sr. named Langford-New Oregon Fire Co. Fireman of the Year; Jim and Jane Gominiak of Perrysburg are GM Hot Button winners at Steve Baldo, Inc. in North Collins.

     Gowanda PennySaver/News wins first place for General Excellence Publishing (tabloid) at competition sponsored by Free Community Papers of New York; Capt. Gary Bobseine of Cattaraugus named DEC Officer of the Year; The Rev. Frank Wood receives the Richard L. Murphy Citizen of the Year award by the Town of New Albion Board of Trustees; K&L 300 bowlers this year are Jim Niewczyk, Jack Frost Sr. and Don Vandermeer; Flavia Lake is dedicated in South Dayton; Mr. and Mrs. Donald Campbell celebrate 70 years of marriage; Carol Sheibley is named Gowanda Volunteer Fire Department Firefighter of the Year; Pioneer Days princes and princesses are Ethan Fort, Autumn Raine Pierce. Dominik Rodriguez. McKenna Wray, Noah Matthew Geiger, Lily Kay Bobseine, Ethan Pierce, MacKenzie Wheeler, Tara Struebel. Molly Spengler. Maverick Claus, Tyler Zwierzchowski. Brittney Harrison, Samantha Rutski and Jonathan O'Brien; End 45 is the Pioneer Days Battle of the Bands winner: Dave Bolen wins the Sixth Annual Crouse 5K Challenge; Austin Clark, Michael Liszkiewicz and Adam Zeafla win the Pioneer Days Tricycle Race.

     Jim Kelly visits Gowanda for the fourth consecutive year to congratulate St. Joseph School students for raising the most money out of all participating schools for the Hunter's Hope Foundation; Benjamin Halsey named North Collins Central School District superintendent; Gowanda Free Library celebrates 100 years; The Town of East Otto celebrates its sesquicentennial; Andy Hody of Springville takes home the Harley Happening at the Hollywood Best of Show award with his modified l976 Harley Shovelhead.

     Schoolhouse #8 is dedicated in North Collins; The Cattaraugus Reds Little League Baseball team celebrated an undefeated season; Tree falls on Gowanda American Legion during severe storm that had hurricane force gusts of wind.

     Versailles Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary win "Best Overall" and "Most Patriotic" awards for their marching group and float at Versailles Community Picnic; Versailles Community Picnic Dessert Contest winners: Carol Long, Kristin Wheeler and Verna Sprague.

     31 Jamestown Street Restaurant wins "Best Overall Food" award at the Taste of the Southtowns event held in Springville; Paper ballots used in Collins on Primary Day; Doug Wright of Gowanda wins the Chautauqua County Fair Demolition Derby; The Degenfelder farm in the Town of Otto is designated a Dairy of Distinction.

     L.K. Painter Community Center Inc. disbands; Gowanda Middle School music teacher Cindy Ripley is named one of the top 30 teachers in the country; Mark Noto of Collins takes first place in the 24th annual National 4x4 Truck Jamboree at Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis; Heritage Harvest Festival Car Show winners: Dick Gabel, Dale Dins, Todd Spina, Logan Frentz, Joe Cash, Ken Brooks, Norris Luther, Ray Hice and Jim Parisio; Zoar Valley Task Force is formed to protect Zoar visitors.

     Gowanda Fire Department's Halloween Costume Contest winners: Kasie Salzman, Isaiah Abraszek, Zachary Carroll, Jade Clabeaux, Dakota Baker, Sheila Crouse, Shawn Myers. Skylar Ruttenbur, John Schott, Marty Hastie, Anthony Snyder, Jack Wells and Marsha Kennedy; Gowanda Pee-Wee Jets Cheerleaders win the CCMFL Cheerleading Competition; American Museum of Cutlery opens in Cattaraugus; Collins native Michael Gaylord wins an Emmy award in Los Angeles; Perrysburg Fire Company's Halloween Parade winners: Jordon Thompson, Jason Riley, Dakota Thompson, Ryan Boutelle, Dakota Bartlett, Julie Bondzich, Emily Stang, Ben Myzel, Brandon LeBeau, Roxann Guth, Cameron Clark, Gabrielle Van Etten, Julia Grey and Hayley Stang; "Abraham Lincoln" visits Gowanda.

     Gowanda's Christmas Coloring Contest winners: Erin Tyler. Olivia Eastland and Adam Sisti.

     Finally, Santa makes appearances throughout the area and Auld Lang Syne is heard throughout the land as we bid goodbye to 2005 and welcome 2006 ...