Canajoharie

Twenty Years Ago

Area farmers, citizens and political figures were on hand at the Buel Road, town of Canajoharie, farm of Lester and Vivian Hawkins to show their support as engineers for Montgomery-Otsego-Schoharie Solid Waste Management Authority inspected the farmland along Flansburg Road as a potential site for a new landfill.

Arthur H. Pedley of Canajoharie and Edward W. Shineman Jr. of Canajoharie and New York City recently have collaborated on a computer program named “Magic Diamonds,” which has been purchased by the Softdisk Publishing, Inc. of Shreveport, LA. Shineman provided the theory for Magic Diamonds and Pedley wrote the computer program, working through Lee Golden, managing editor of Softdisk Publishing provides monthly software to users of Apple, Commodore, MacIntosh, Laser and IBMPC computers. Subscribers include colleges, schools and private individuals throughout the world.

Canajoharie Central School graduating Class of 1942 will hold its Golden Anniversary reunion at Saltsman’s Hotel in Ephratah. All attendees will receive an historical booklet on the class.

For veteran quadriplegic participant Emery Giovannone, attendance at the 12th annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games again proved to be another very worthwhile experience. Giovannone, a 1967 graduate of the Canajoharie Central School system, not only came away with at least two medals out of four events that he entered, but also encountered some enjoyable and “scary” activities while at the games. Giovannone participated under the sponsorship of the Eastern Paralytic Association in the annual games, which were held in and around Dayton, Ohio. Giovannone gained bronze (third-place) medals in both the air rifle shooting event and bowling. He also could be in line for another medal in the poker rally event — the results of that competition were not completed during the week of the games.

Thirty Years Ago

The Canajoharie American Field Service Chapter has announced that Mrs. Carol Shovelton and family, have been selected to host Manuel Breuer, West Germany, who has been placed with them for the coming school year.

Kevin J. Hennessy, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold P. Hennessy, received practical work in military leadership at the Army ROTC Advanced Camp, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Forty Years Ago

Palatine Bridge Mayor Thomas Clayburn announced that contrary to rumor, no leases have been negotiated with prospective tenants for occupancy of the new shopping plaza to be located off Lafayette Street.

Fort Plain

Twenty Years Ago

The State Department of Health declared the recent Boil Water Order for the village of Fort Plain had been lifted. Heavy rains over the last several weeks caused water levels in the North Creek reservoir and streams feeding into the reservoir to rise significantly, which caused a high level of turbidity, or roiling to occur. DOH officials pointed out, however, that the Boil Water Order was not called due to giardiasis cysts, a suspected cause of the gastrointestinal ailment known as ‘Beaver Fever.’ A high level of sediment, officials said, was the culprit prompting the water alert.

Nicholas R. Nalli has been awarded a research assistantship in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He will study under the supervision of Professor William Smith, a pioneer in the field of remote sensing (satellite) applications in atmospheric science. At the same time, he will pursue a master’s in meteorology degree. Nalli is a graduate of Fort Plain High School and currently holds BS and MS degrees in science education at the State University College at Oneonta. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Rocco Nalli Jr., of Fort Plain.

Thirty Years Ago

Stabilization of the Otsquago Creek bed above the Reid Street bridge started recently when Silver Springs Contractors, Troy, moved in heavy equipment to remove a large gravel bar and rocks from about 1,500 feet of channel and provide stream bank stabilization on both sides of the creek between Reid and Abbott streets. It was on the Reid Street side that the devastating flood of Oct. 28, 1981, undermined the foundation of garages, demolished one small storage building and carried topsoil and trees down the swollen stream. Debris and trees from this area and further upstream jammed against the old Erie Canal aqueduct, and before it was washed out, dammed up the water, inundating Dairy, Main, Canal and other streets in downtown Fort Plain.

Josephine Young Case and Everett Needham Case, both of Van Hornesville, have authored a book on a famous native son, entitled: “Owen D. Young and American Enterprise.” The book is 785 pages in length with illustrations and additional pages of notes and an index.

Second Lt. Shawn A. Clouthier, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Clouthier, Reid Street, recently graduated from the Air National Guard Academy of Military Sciences at Alcoa, Tenn.

Bernard Sanders, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Sanders Sr., Fort Plain RD 3, has been promoted to personnel manager at the Alcan plant in Oswego.

Forty Years Ago

The Student Union welcomed visitors to its new home at 101 Canal Street with an open house. Speaking at informal ceremonies in the afternoon were Assemblywoman Mary Anne Krupsak and Fort Plain and Nelliston mayors Richard Jacksland and Harvey Gramps.

St. Johnsville

Twenty Years Ago

The St. Johnsville Volunteer Fire Department recently purchased three new firefighting trucks, two of them outright with fire department funds, and one with a half-and-half donation from the village of St. Johnsville. The newest of the three is a 1992 Utilimaster Rescue vehicle, which is a major update in the department’s equipment roster, according to Fire Chief Jamie Carter. The Utilimaster is well equipped with communications gear, a four-bottle cascade system used for refilling air packs; and there’s two one-hour Survivor Paks, designed especially for dealing with hazardous material fires or spills. The rig carries a 6 KVA generator, jaws of life and other extrication equipment, as well as room for numerous other firefighting gear. It’s also equipped with a full complement of emergency medical service equipment. Carter said the Utilmaster is fully useable as a mobile command center. Next in line is a 1967 Seagrave aerial truck with an 85-foot ladder the department purchased and refurbished. And finally, the department unveiled its new 1991 Four Guys pumper/tanker truck, a machine that features a 1,500 gallon tank, a 1,000 gallon per minute portable deluge gun and a 1,250 gallon per minute pump. Carter said it was the pumper/tanker truck for which the village of St. Johnsville paid half of the cost.

Thirty Years Ago

A parade along Route 29, a horse shoe toss and tug-of-war were some of the activities enjoyed by close to 2,000 people attending the Oppenheim Fire Department’s Annual Fair and Field Days held.

Forty Years Ago

Instead of resorting to an austerity budget, a school budget will be presented for a fourth time. It is now $16,885 lower than the third budget recently voted down.

The classes of 1922 and 1947 will be honored at the Little Falls Elks Club.