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The Erie County Legislature issued a proclamation at its meeting on March 13 to recognize and commend the Island Dispatch on the celebration of its 70th anniversary.
In making the proclamation, the legislature commended the Dispatch for its "commitment to the needs of schools, churches, youth, government and the people."
The proclamation noted that the Dispatch was founded in 1944 by Ollie Howard and purchased by Skip Mazenauer in 1978. The Dispatch "has been recognized as the official newspaper of the Town of Grand Island and this year was designated as an official newspaper of the Erie County Legislature."
The proclamation further noted that the Dispatch "has served as a vehicle for government, civic, educational, religious and professional groups to deliver their messages to the general public."
The Dispatch, one of four papers in Niagara Frontier Publications, "has a staff of 18 full and part-time employees, numerous freelance writers and photographers, as well as independent newspaper carriers, battling fierce competition from the goliaths in the newspaper industry and continues to deliver outstanding editions each week."
Pictured, from left, Island Dispatch editor Larry Austin accepts the proclamation from Erie County 4th District Legislator Kevin Hardwick with publishers Judy and Skip Mazenauer.