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Let's Go Back for Dec. 30, 2011

by jmaloni
Fri, Dec 30th 2011 09:40 am

40 Years Ago, Dec. 29, 1971

Ice, not bombs close bridge

For those of you who discovered the North Grand Island Bridge closed to traffic on Monday, Dec. 27, in the late afternoon and wondered why, we have discovered at least the most pertinent facts.

According to (New York State Police) Sgt. O'Reilly of the Lewiston barracks, several accidents occurred on Route I-190 and on the bridge due to rain and freezing conditions.

The weather bureau had predicted such an onslaught but, aside from the rain, the Island itself showed no immediate effect of the icing conditions. Nevertheless, the bridge was closed for a short time to give highway crews an opportunity to salt and sand the roads. When that operation was completed, the bridge was reopened to traffic just before 4:30 p.m. and the rush hour.

30 Years Ago, Dec. 26, 1981

Arias to play in Buffalo Aud

Advertised as "The International Cable Teddy Bear Rematch" is Jimmy Arias' return-home trip to the Buffalo area. The Grand Island native will face Illie Nastase at 7 p.m. on Jan. 5 in Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium.

Armstead Sports and Festival East is sponsoring the event, which is a grudge match for the internationally known and outspoken Nastase. On July 28, Nastase presented Arias (then 16 and the youngest male tennis pro in the world) with a teddy bear before a match at the Mutual Life Open at Orange, N.J. Arias laughed off the incident by defeating Nastase, 1-6, 6-3 and 7-6.

After the match Nastase vowed never to lose to a 16-year-old again. The colorful, to say the least, Romanian can hold true on his vow, because Jimmy is now 17.

The Arias family has resided on Grand Island for about 10 years now, but since moving to Florida to work with coach Nick Bollettieri, Arias has gained international exposure and renown in the world of professional tennis.

30 Years Ago, Jan. 3, 1992

EPA fines the town and Dunlop Tire

The Town of Grand Island and Dunlop Tire Co. each face a $1,000 fine for failing to meet Environmental Protection Agency lab-testing requirements.

Apparently the town's waste water treatment plant and Dunlop's laboratories did not submit complete reports on quality assurance tests designed to prove the testing accuracy of waste water discharges. In verifying the accuracy of the lab tests, EPA asks for analyzed samples of every pollutant, which is monitored.

The fines are the result of an expedited settlement that allows facilities to avoid a lengthy and expensive hearing and appeal process that may have ended up with heftier penalties, up to $7,000 for each site.

10 Years Ago, Dec. 28, 2001

Islander wins 'My Boss is a Scrooge' contest

Ken Kopra, a letter carrier at the Grand Island branch of the U.S. Post Office, was the 2001 winner of the Oldies 104 "My Boss is a Scrooge" contest. Kopra wrote a letter to the radio station explaining why the post office should get a party from the station rather than from their boss. In his letter Kopra wrote," Usually management treats all the employees (about 35 of us) to lunch at the post office." However both their boss and manager were out of town on a temporary job assignment and were not available. The post office was informed last week they won the party. The event took place on Dec. 20.

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